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COLLAB STORIES

Natalia Swarz

collab stories

Natalia Swarz

Natalia Swarz is a Colombian artist and creative consultant, born in Cali and currently living in Madrid. She comes from a family with artistic roots—her mother was a fashion designer, and her grandmother was a florist.

She is the founder of Hôtel Weekend, a platform dedicated to contemporary travel culture, where she shares travel stories, memories of hotels, and guides created by people from the world of art and design.

She is the author of the book Barefoot Living.
On Instagram, she runs the profile @nataliaswarz, where she shares inspiration related to travel, design, and lifestyle.  

INTERVIEW

Natalia Swarz & TAMO


You come from an artistic family and you moved often. How did you find the house you live in now? Does it have a fascinating history that made you decide to stay here?

After years of living in a home that we carefully renovated to reflect our tastes, our growing family outgrew its walls. The decision to leave was bittersweet—leaving behind the familiarity of a place we’d poured our creativity into wasn’t easy. However, renting elsewhere had its limitations, as we couldn’t truly make the space our own. Our search for a new home was long and challenging, especially since nothing felt as heartfelt as our former space. Then we discovered a charming apartment online. It wasn’t just the modern design or the gorgeous floors that caught our eye; it was the feeling it evoked—a harmonious blend of history and contemporary style. The apartment’s location, being just a stone’s throw from one of the most beautiful parks in the city, promised a daily dose of nature’s tranquility. That combination of thoughtful design, rich history, and an enviable location convinced us that this was the perfect new chapter for our family.

Natalia, you were an illustrator and graphic designer. Your mother and grandmother were involved in fashion. Your husband is an artist. What do you do on a daily basis now, what does your work look like?

Our daily routine has evolved into a beautifully unpredictable blend of creative energy and family time. Each morning, around 7:30 am, the entire family gathers for breakfast, a ritual that sets a warm tone for the day. While our eldest heads off to school, I carve out moments for work, whether it’s sketching ideas, tackling design projects, or running essential errands. The rhythm of the day shifts with our new baby’s arrival—some mornings are filled with creative bursts during quiet moments, while others are more centered on nurturing our little one. Afternoons are dedicated to quality family time: we venture out to the park, explore our neighborhood, and find inspiration in the simplest of moments. As the day winds down, we come together for dinner, followed by bath time and bedtime routine. In this dynamic balance of work and play, creativity finds its way into every corner of our lives.

What part of the apartment do you spend the most time in? With Tamo you have chosen, among others: NOKI shelf. Tell us what's on it? Is there anything you collect?

Our home is a mosaic of intimate spaces where life unfolds naturally. The kitchen, for instance, is our morning meeting ground, where laughter and lively conversation over breakfast set the tone for the day. The living room offers its own charm, where each  of us has a corner to unwind, read, and play. One of our most treasured features is the NOKI shelf. It began as a simple idea to display our favorite books, but it has grown into a vibrant gallery of our family’s story. On the shelf, you’ll find a carefully curated mix of literature that spans our interests and memories, mixed with personal touches like family photos, handwritten notes, and even our daughter’s little crafts. This shelf isn’t just about storage—it’s a living, evolving display that reflects our passions, our history, and the everyday magic of our home.

What would you say are the most important values ​​for you when it comes to the things around you?

Honest, conscious, and simple are our pillars.

These principles guide every creative decision we make, from choosing decor to selecting everyday objects. We favor items that tell a story and reflect authenticity, pieces that are both beautifully designed and ethically sourced. Our focus on conscious living pushes us to seek sustainable choices that honor the environment while remaining elegant. Simplicity, meanwhile, allows us to create spaces that are uncluttered and serene, leaving room for the warmth and spontaneity of family life. Whether it’s through a minimalist design or the thoughtful arrangement of everyday items, our surroundings are a direct reflection of what matters most to us.

When you founded Hotel Weekend in 2015, you certainly had more time for slow travel. You recently returned from vacation, where have you been and do you still enjoy it so much? Is it different when traveling with children?

We spent our summer in Denmark, it is the most beautiful country and so perfect to travel with kids. 

It is very different traveling with kids, you just need to adjust your expectations and enjoy the ride with everything that comes with it. We love traveling with them and have been everywhere since our oldest was born. It is something very important for us, first, so our lifestyle doesn’t completely change but it is adapted to our new rhythm, and second, for our girls to learn about different cultures and see the world, meet people from everywhere… so it’s part of them since the very beginning.

A house should always serve the people who live in it, has having children made you more flexible when it comes to decor? What common home rituals do you have to make together?

 I love creating an environment that visibly celebrates the presence of kids while remaining aesthetically pleasing. Decorating the children’s rooms is a delightful challenge—a chance to infuse fun, color, and magic without sacrificing style. In our living room, for example, we’ve created a cozy library corner where the girls can immerse themselves in stories while we relax on the sofa. Our home is filled with little rituals that keep us connected: from Armando’s cooking sessions with Ceci to the playful “spa” moments during bath time and the occasional family movie night that leaves us with memories to cherish. These shared experiences transform our house into a living space that grows and evolves with us, capturing the essence of family, creativity, and togetherness.